Mayo star Dillon announces retirement

Former Mayo captain Alan Dillon has announced his retirement from inter-county football.

The 35-year-old made 66 championship appearances for Mayo in a 14-year inter-county career, and was on the losing side in six All-Ireland senior finals.

Two-time All Star Dillon, who won eight Connacht senior medals in 12 years between 2004 and 2015, was an unused substitute in this year's All-Ireland defeat to Dublin.

"Everyone has their time and my time has come," the Balintubber clubman said in a statement.

"Today I wish to announce my inter-county retirement from the Mayo Senior Football Team.

"Playing the game, representing this team, giving my all and never letting go has meant everything to me. If asked to write a script for my career back in 2003, there is no way I would’ve been able to imagine this journey but now I feel it’s the right time to step away."

Mayo manager Stephen Rochford says Dillon "won the admiration" of everyone connected with the game for his contribution to Mayo football.

"Alan's talent was evident from a very young age and he was rightly heralded as a future star by his mid teens," Rochford said.

"There was huge versatility to his game.

"And all of this underpinned by a powerful determination, and an unyielding desire to win and to progress, that he showed each and every time he put on the Ballintubber or Mayo jersey.

"Alan Dillon won the admiration of GAA fans from all over Ireland and he leaves the inter-county stage with his head held high.

"As Mayo manager for the past two seasons, it has been a pleasure to work with him and I know that he will continue to make a telling contribution to his club and county in the years ahead."

Photo Inpho/ Cathal Noonan

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